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William Debenham

{{Short description|British businessman}}

{{other people}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = William Debenham

| image =

| caption =

{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Biographical data}}

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1794|4|18}}

| birth_place = Alpheton, Suffolk, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1863|9|24|1794|4|18}}

| death_place = Kensal Rise, London, England

| resting_place =

| nationality = British

| citizenship = British

| years_active = 1813–1863

| occupation = {{flat list|

  • Businessman
  • Retailer

}}

| boards =

| employer = Debenhams Ltd

| title = Chair of Debenhams

| term = 1813–1863

| successor = William Debenham Jnr

| known_for = Founder of Debenhams plc

| organization = Debenhams

| footnotes =

| spouse = {{marriage|Caroline Freebody|1820}}

| children = {{flat list|

  • six sons
  • four daughters}}

| relatives = Ernest Debenham
Sir Piers Debenham
Alison Debenham

| website ={{url|debenhams.com}}

}}

William Debenham ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɛ|b|ən|ə|m}}; 18 April 1794 – 24 September 1863) was the founder of Debenhams, once one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom.

Career

Born in 1794 in Alpheton in Suffolk,[http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=knightlight&id=I4625&ti=5538 William Debenham at Ancestry.co.uk] William Debenham joined Thomas Clark in a partnership to manage a draper's store at 44 Wigmore Street in London.[http://www.debenham.org.uk/History/Distinguished.htm Distinguished members of the Debenhams Family]

The partners later expanded the business such that it had stores on both sides of Wigmore Street, one known as Debenham & Clark and the other known as Clark & Debenham. When William Debenham Snr retired a new partnership was formed between his son, William Debenham Jnr, and Clement Freebody. This business became Debenhams, one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom. William Debenham Snr died in 1863 at Kensal Rise in London.

Family

William married Caroline Freebody in 1820 and together they had six sons and four daughters.

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • Fine Silks and Oak Counters 1778 – 1978 by Maurice Corina, Published 1978, Hutchinson Benham {{ISBN|978-0-09-134910-3}}

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{{s-bus}}

{{s-bef|rows=2|before=William Clark}}

{{s-ttl|title= President of Debenhams|years= 1813–1863}}

{{s-aft|rows=2|after=William Debenhams Jnr}}

{{s-ttl|title= chairman of Debenhams |years=1813–1863}}

{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Debenham, William}}

Category:1794 births

Category:1863 deaths

Category:19th-century British businesspeople

Category:British retail company founders

William

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